Tesla Model 3 Performance

Overview

The 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance is the ultimate expression of the brand's compact electric sedan, dialing the speed and handling up to eleven. As the top-tier "Highland" refresh, it's a legitimate sports sedan killer, blending staggering acceleration with newfound ride comfort. It's designed for drivers who crave blistering performance without sacrificing daily usability. While no longer in production new, a late-model example on the used market is estimated around $43,400, offering supercar-scaring pace for the price of a premium family car. This is the one to get for ultimate bragging rights.

What's New for 2025?

For its final model year, the Model 3 Performance gets the full "Highland" treatment, representing a massive leap forward. The biggest news is a sophisticated new adaptive damping system, finally giving the Performance the ride quality to match its speed. It also boasts a more aggressive and aerodynamic exterior design, deeply bolstered sport seats for better support, and a revamped interior. The cabin now features a rear passenger screen, configurable ambient lighting, and improved materials, making it feel significantly more premium than its predecessor.

Design & Exterior

The 2025 Performance looks meaner than ever, thanks to the "Highland" refresh. It gets a unique, more aggressive front bumper and a redesigned rear diffuser with a distinctive carbon fiber spoiler. New 20-inch "Warp" wheels not only look the business but are also lighter and more aerodynamic. The slimmer, angrier headlights complete the aggressive makeover. Despite its potent look, it maintains a compact footprint at 185.8 inches long, 72.8 inches wide, and a low-slung 56.3 inches tall, giving it a properly hunkered-down stance on the road.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the Performance trim gets exclusive, heavily bolstered sport seats that are both heated and ventilated, holding you snugly in place. The cabin is minimalist, dominated by a crisp 15.4-inch central touchscreen that controls nearly everything. An 8-inch rear screen gives passengers their own climate and entertainment controls. Practicality is excellent, with 21 cubic feet of trunk space that expands to 34.5 cubic feet with the seats down. Plus, a handy 3.1 cubic foot frunk under the hood provides extra storage for charging cables or groceries.

Performance & Driving Experience

This is where the Model 3 Performance truly shines. Its dual-motor All-Wheel Drive system, featuring an induction motor up front and a permanent magnet motor at the rear, unleashes a combined 618 horsepower and 547 lb-ft of torque. The result is a mind-bending 0-60 mph launch in just 2.9 seconds. The new adaptive suspension is a game-changer, allowing you to switch between a comfortable ride for commuting and a firm, track-ready setup for carving up corners. It’s a proper dual-threat machine with stunning straight-line speed and newfound agility.

Range, Battery & Charging

Powering this rocket is a 75 kWh usable battery pack. Green Cars Compare estimates a real-world range of 281 miles, with an impressive efficiency of 3.75 mi/kWh. At home, the 11.5 kW onboard AC charger can top up the battery overnight. On the road, you can plug into Tesla’s Supercharger network via the NACS port and hit a peak DC charging speed of 250 kW, zapping the battery from 10-80% in about 25 minutes. It’s got the range for road trips and the charging speed to make them hassle-free.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Tesla’s commitment to safety is on full display, with the Model 3 earning a top 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard on the Performance trim is Tesla’s Autopilot suite, which includes adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist to ease the strain of highway driving. For more advanced capabilities, buyers can opt for the Enhanced Autopilot or the "Full Self-Driving Capability" packages, which add features like automatic lane changes, Autopark, and traffic light and stop sign control, though they still require active driver supervision.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Tesla's warranty provides solid peace of mind for Performance owners. The vehicle is covered by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic limited warranty. More importantly, the heart of the car—the battery and drive unit—are protected for a lengthy 8 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. This includes a guarantee of at least 70% battery capacity retention over the warranty period. Tesla does not include complimentary maintenance, but the simple electric powertrain requires minimal scheduled servicing, mainly consisting of tire rotations and brake fluid checks.